WTA Toronto Third Round Preview: Unpacking the Key Matches and Betting Opportunities

The WTA Toronto tournament continues with the third round on Friday. As women’s tennis players ramp up in preparation for the U.S. Open, this event is naturally significant. It’s also simply a time for many players to gather information on how well they are playing and what they might need to change going into New York in a few weeks. Because Canada comes after grass season and some July clay tournaments, it represents a change in the calendar as it moves to hardcourts. If players do fail at this WTA Toronto tournament, they won’t be happy, but they will at least know what they need to do when they move south to Cincinnati the following week. Win or lose, this tournament really matters. Now let’s see who wins and moves into the Round of 16. LWOS has our best bets for three matches. Post your best bets and thoughts in the comments.

A lot of the head-to-heads in the matches we preview here at LWOS are 0-0, 1-0, 1-1, or 2-0. Not many head-to-heads have at least six or seven previous meetings, but this one does. Naomi Osaka and Elise Mertens have met eight times, with Osaka winning five. It does mean that these players know each other well and are aware of what to expect when they take the court. It doesn’t guarantee a result. It does mean that these players are unlikely to catch the other off guard, and it will come down to which player executes better.

Mertens had a good Wimbledon this year, as did Osaka, but if these two players are both playing at the same level, Osaka is better. She has won four Major championships and has shown she can play very good tennis against Aryna Sabalenka and other top players. Osaka against the game spread is our recommended standalone wager.

That being said, betting on Osaka -2.5 games is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/ the best odds: Osaka -2.5 games at 1.61 @1xBet 

Maria Sakkari and Coco Gauff have met 11 times, with Gauff leading the head-to-head 6-5. Notably, Gauff has won the last three meetings, but Sakkari is playing fairly well. Sakkari has won five of her last six matches. She reached the Athens final and then scored a good win over Zeynep Sonmez earlier this week in the WTA Toronto tournament. Sakkari’s level of form suggests that she could make this a close match, but Gauff is 17-6 on hardcourts this year and is not easy to beat on this surface.

Not only has Gauff won the last three against Sakkari; she has won all three in straight sets. There is your answer. The standalone wager to make is Gauff in two sets. She has the upper hand in this matchup and seems to have learned how to attack Sakkari’s style of play.

That being said, betting on Gauff winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/ the best odds: Gauff winning 2:0 at 1.76 @1xBet     

Caty McNally pulled a big WTA Toronto upset by knocking off Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova. While Noskova didn’t play her best, McNally was able to take advantage and post one of her best match victories this season. Now McNally faces one of the hottest players on tour, Filipina sensation Alexandra Eala. She won the WTA Washington title and has continued to win in Canada this week. How long can Eala keep it going this summer? She has been outstanding and continues to gain confidence with each new victory.

We correctly predicted that Alycia Parks would take a set off Eala in the previous round, given Eala had played a lot of tennis between Washington and WTA Toronto. We’re going to stick with that prediction here, taking McNally to win at least one set. Eala will get tired at some point, and it will affect her tennis. 

That being said, betting on McNally +1.5 sets is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/ the best odds: McNally +1.5 sets at 1.80 @Coral

Main Photo Credit: Vaughn Ridley-USA TODAY Sports 

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